Here’s the thing though, not everyone is a fan of feta cheese, so we felt like we had no choice but to bust out an amazingly Easy Italian Pasta Salad recipe complete with mozzarella cheese, fresh and flavorful Homemade Italian Salad Dressing, and meat and vegetables galore.
WHEN TO PREPARE PASTA SALAD
It’s best to prepare pasta salad as close to eating it as possible. The longer it sits the more it will absorb the dressing and turn bland in flavor. Not to mention, the noodles become overly soft and swollen.
As we mentioned in our other pasta salad posts, you should never refrigerate pasta salad before serving either. You can read the posts we linked to above to find out more.
If you wish to prepare your Easy Italian Pasta Salad ahead of time, make sure the noodles are stored in a ziploc bag and the ingredients stored in a separate container with the dressing in a jar.
EASY ITALIAN PASTA SALAD RECIPE
YIELD: 8 SERVINGS
EASY ITALIAN PASTA SALAD
total time: 20 MINUTES prep time: 15 MINUTES cook time: 15 MINUTES
There’s something about pasta salad recipes and summertime that just make the world happy. Our Easy Italian Pasta Salad recipe has a homemade Italian dressing, meat, cheese and veggies!
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INGREDIENTS:
1 Pound Rotini
1 Cup Chopped Pepperoni
1 Cup Chopped Salami
1/2 Cup Sliced Black Olives
1 Cup Chopped Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
2 Tomatoes, chopped
1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped
1/2 Cup Chopped Red Onion
FOR THE DRESSING
1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 Cup White Wine Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese, grated
1 Tablespoon Red Bell Pepper, chopped
1 Tablespoon Dry Parsley
1/2 Teaspoon Dry Onion Powder
1 Teaspoon Garlic, minced
2 Teaspoons Lemon Juice, fresh
1 Teaspoon Dry Basil
1 Teaspoon Dry Oregano
1 Teaspoon Sugar
Salt and Pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
FOR THE DRESSING
Prepare the dressing by adding everything to a glass jar, adding the lid and shaking to combine, or whisking in a bowl.
FOR THE PASTA SALAD
Cook the pasta for about 7-8 minutes so it’s just al dente.
Place the cooked pasta in a strainer in the sink and let cool.
Add the mix in ingredients and the salad dressing as well as salt and pepper to taste. Toss gently to coat and serve within 30 minutes.
NUTRITION INFORMATION Yield: 8 servings, Serving Size: 1 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 200 Calories Total Fat: 15.6g Carbohydrates: 9.2g Fiber: 2.5g Sugar: 3.4g Protein: 8g